By normal standards you don’t even have to try it with the new GMC Hummer. It has its origins in the almost indestructible American army vehicle and was completely redeveloped on the variable Ultium platform. And even if the US Army is already scrutinizing the new GMC Hummer for possible future deployments – the new Hummer has nothing in common with the Desert Storm relic. Rather, the successor should fill the boring GM brand GMC with new life on the home market. What could be easier than with a new Hummer – fully electric – to be expanded into a small family.
The start is made by the Hummer as a pick-up – more so than the full-size models that are so popular in the USA, such as a Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado or Dodge Ram. The 5.50 meter long Hummer looks like it weighs five tons – in fact it is hardly lighter at 4.3 tons. Its power is enormous, because 740 kW / 1000 hp / 1,620 Nm is an almost unbelievable performance and yet the Hummer is a real dancer. Played on the controller on the mighty center console and the heart of the electric colossus beats in three-four time. Thanks to its four individually controlled wheels, it can also trundle diagonally in one direction like a crab – that’s just crazy and a real show off-road.
The soul of the EV Hummer is a battery pack weighing 910 kilograms in the underbody, which not only supplies the electric motors with the necessary energy, but also brings unique stability to the body structure. While the 1,000 hp top model has three electric motors (one in front / two in the rear), the following weaker Hummer variants are on the road with one motor in the front and one on the rear axle. The two-tier battery pack sets standards in the electric car class, because 208 kWh has never been seen before in a mass-produced electric car. The stately battery pack is sufficient for more than 520 kilometers before it goes to the next charging station. This is where the descendant of the Army Humvee proves to be extremely versatile, because the normal 400-volt on-board network can be doubled to 800 volts when refueling, thus significantly reducing the charging time. In ten minutes, with a charging speed of up to 350 kW, there is energy for the next 160 kilometers.
The electric colossus has to complete its first test drive on the torture track of the in-house Mildford test site near Detroit. Heat and dusty slopes are the smallest problem here, but the Hummer crawls up the steepest climbs without any problems and digs through the impassable terrain. Even when the front hood stretches steeply up into the sky, the driver keeps everything in view, because a camera view on the large screen makes the underbody literally visible and so there are no nasty surprises when the Hummer has made it over the crest. What impresses most, however, is not the ease with which the electric mega pick-up easily digs through deep ruts, sand and rubble. Despite the weight of more than four tons and a vehicle length of 5.50 meters, the colossus is manoeuvrable in a way that you would not have expected. The intelligent all-wheel steering reduces the turning circle from 13.5 to 11.3 meters. And even if the Hummer is powered by electricity – the front axle can be locked electronically and the top model has two separate electric motors at the rear that can be controlled individually. Perfect for tough terrain.
The steering is smooth and always precise despite the mighty off-road tires. Uphill, the three electric motors with their gigantic 1,000 hp can be sensitively controlled with the foot on the accelerator – this is where the advantages of the significantly slower working combustion engines become apparent, which first have to be kept in good spirits with increased idle speed so that the torque does not die off. Thus, Wunsch also goes through much more than shallow water passages, because the wading depth is 81 centimeters and thanks to its ground clearance of 40 centimeters, the American crawls over most problems without any effort. The various driving modes can be controlled via the screen or a switch on the wide center tunnel. The shift pedal on the left of the steering wheel, which can also be used to switch to one-pedal mode, is more helpful than ever. Then the roaring monster can be moved particularly delicately – uphill and downhill – without using the brake pedal.
The interior of the Targa leaves a lot to be desired, because given the price of 100,000 US dollars it is very mediocre. After all, there is plenty of space in the front and rear, the seating is wide and could give more contour. The plastic desert on the dashboard, however, is purely a matter of taste. Beautiful and really valuable looks different; but somehow the lobster of modern times presents itself exactly as one would have expected from it. The 13.4 square meter center display in particular offers the most important information when you are traveling at slow speed over hard terrain. Then the consumption is also kept within limits, which can be significantly influenced by the use of the brake and recuperation level in everyday life. And if you have to flee quickly: from a standing start, the electric giant sprints to 100 km/h in just over three seconds.
The $110,000 Edition 1 Hummer EV sold out immediately, so we’ll just have to wait. Positioned under the top model is the Hummer EV 3X for around $106,000. The two basic versions, each with just one motor on the front and rear axles, will probably not be available until the end of 2023/beginning of 2024 – at prices starting at 86,000 US dollars. A start in Europe is in the stars. But some US importers are already pulling out all the stops to get the original electric climbing maxes to Europe.
